Railway canteen turns Trinamul office

- Party workers accused of drinking and creating ruckus in Asansol room

ABHIJEET CHATTERJEE

Posters and banners of Mamata Banerjee inside the railways-owned room in Asansol that has been turned into a party office

Asansol, Nov. 25: A section of Trinamul workers in Asansol has allegedly turned a closed railway canteen into a party office-cum-club, evoking protests from residents.

The residents and shopkeepers alleged that local Trinamul workers frequently held drinking sessions inside the room after sunset. They also alleged that the Trinamul workers had rented out a portion of the 20X20 room to fruit sellers to keep their stock.

The room belongs to the Asansol railway division. The railway employees co-operative society used to run a canteen there but it was closed down four years ago following an internal feud.

The room was reopened before the Assembly polls last year and turned into an election office of Malay Ghatak, who is now the agriculture minister.

But after the polls, the Trinamul workers started using it as a party office. The room also allegedly doubles as a club, where party workers hold drinking sessions and play carom.

“The local Trinamul workers play cards and carom there. They also buy liquor bottles from a nearby shop and drink in the room till late at night,” a resident said.